Playground swing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The swing apparatus has a hub assembly supported at the upper end of an upright column for rotation about a vertical axis. A horizontal beam member extended diametrically of the column and yieldably mounted on the hub assembly for rotational and horizontal tilting movement relative to the column pendently carries an occupant supporting swing unit at each end thereof.

United States Patent 3,0 3,995 1963 .leylett u n Claude Wesley Ahrens Grinnel, Iowa 501 12 816,560

Apr. 16, 1969 Aug. 17, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented PLAYGROUND SWING APPARATUS 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 272/33, 272/85 Int. Cl A63g l/32 Field of Search 272/85, 30,

1,069,715 8/1913 Morris 272/30 1,392,147 9 1921 Grove 272/30 1,434,850 11/1922 Smith 272/30 l,866,906 7/1932 Rager 272/54 2,993,530 7/1961 Littleetal. 272/58X 3,390,879 7/1968 French 272/54 Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Theatrice Brown AttorneyRudolph L. Lowell ABSTRACT: The swing apparatus has a hub assembly supported at the upper end of an upright column for rotation about a vertical axis. A horizontal beam member extended diametrically of the column and yieldably mounted on the hub assembly for rotational and horizontal tilting movement relative to the column pendently carries an occupant supporting swing unit at each end thereof.

PLAYGROUND SWING APPARATUS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION trolled by the swing occupants so as to provide an entertaining and exciting ride.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING With reference to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the swing apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view showing the rotational and tilting support of the swing mounting beam on the upright column of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing the assembly of the spring supports for the swing unit beam with a rotatable hub unit on the upright column, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a swing unit that is pendently carried on the swing beam.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings, the playground apparatus of this invention, designated generally at in FIG. 1, comprises an upright column or standard 11, a hub unit l2 rotatably supported on the upper end of the column and a spring assembly 13 for yieldably mounting a horizontal beam member 14 on the hub unit 12 for rotational and horizontal tilting movement relative to the column.

The column 11 is of a tubular construction and has its lower end suitably anchored in the ground 16 by a concrete footing or the like 17. Mounted within and projected upwardly from the column 11 (FIG. 2) is a shaft 18 which is secured to the column by a pin 19 inserted diametrically through the shaft 18 and the column 11. The upper portion of the shaft 18 is formed with sections 20 and 21 of reduced diameters to provide axially spaced upper and lower annular shoulders or ledges 22 and 23, respectively. A combination bearing shield and stoprcollar 24 is welded about the shaft 18 immediately below the shoulder 23. I

The hub unit 12 (FIG. 2) includes a tubular hub member 26 of a cylindrical shape having its inner peripheral surface 27 at each end of the hub member formed with an annular recess 28 to. form upper and lower shoulders 29 and 31, respectively. Upper and lower bearing units 32 'and 33, respectively, are mounted about the shaft 18 and seated within the recesses 28 with the upper bearing unit 32 supported on the shoulders 22 and 29 of the shaft 18 and hub member 26, respectively. The lower bearing unit 33 is carried on the shaft shoulder 23 with the lower shoulder 31 of the hub member 26 resting on the bearing unit 33.

A dirt shield 34 of a disc shape having a diameter equal to the outer diameter of the hub member 26 is positioned in a covering relation over the upper end of the hub member with its lower surface in a clearance relation with the upper bearing unit 32 and the top surface of the shaft 18. A bolt 36 extended through the shield member 34 is threadable within an axial bore 37 formed in the top surface of the shaft 18 to clamp the shield member 34 against the hub member 26.

Extended diametrically across the top of the hub unit 12 are a pair of transversely spaced angle members 38 and 39 (FIGS. 3 and 4) having horizontal legs 41 arranged opposite each other and upright legs 42 spaced apart from each other so as to form a pair of radially extended arm members of a substantially channel shape in transverse cross section. Each angle member 38 and 39 is rigidly secured to the hub unit 12 by a pair of oppositely arranged gusset plates 43, each of which (FIG. 2) has a top side welded to the underside of an angle member 38 and 39 and an upright side welded to the outer surface of the hub member 26.

Located above and extended longitudinally of the angle members 38 and 39 is an elongated tubular beam member 14 (FIG. 1) which pendently carries at each end thereof a swing unit 44. The beam member 14 (FIG. 2) is yieldably supported on the hub unit 12 by the spring assembly 13 which includes a pair of fiat spring members 46 each of which is of a U-shape having end sections 47 and 48 connected together by a base section 49. The spring members 46 are arranged to opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the hub assembly 12 with the base sections 49 positionedso as to face each other. The leg sections 48, hereinafter to be referred to as the upper leg sections, are extended longitudinally of and against the underside of the horizontal beam member 14 for securement thereto as by bolts 51.

The lower leg sections 47 are received between the upright legs 42 of the angle members 38 and 39 and against the horizontal legs 41. Thus, as best appears in FIGS. 2 and 4, the free or outer end of each lower leg section 47 is clamped against the top side of the horizontal legs 41 by a bolt assembly 52, extended through such outer end and between the horizontal legs 41 for operative association with a clamping plate 53 extended transversely of and engageable with the underside of the horizontal legs 41.

The inner ends of the lower leg sections 47 are held against the top side of the horizontal legs 41 of the angle members 38 and 39 by transverse brace plates 54 which extend between and are connected to the vertical legs 42, as by w'eldments, at spaced positions above the top side of the horizontal leg members 41 equal substantially to the thickness of a spring member 46.

In assembly, the lower leg section 47 of a spring member 46 is inserted between a brace member 54 and the horizontal legs 41 of the angle members 38 and 39 until the free end of such lower leg section is adjacent to the outer ends of the angle members. The bolt assembly 52 and clamping plate 53 are then put into positions providing for the lower leg section being rigidly clamped at its free end to the angle members 38 and 39. With the spacing between the vertical legs 42 of the angle members being only slightly greater than the width of a spring member 46, a spring member is positively held against lateral tilting movement relative to the angle members 38 and 39. The upper and lower leg sections 48 and 47, respectively, are thus vertically movable toward and away from each other, in response to varying load applications at the ends of the horizontal beam member 14.

A swing unit 44 (FIG. 1) at each end of the beam member 14 is of a usual type having a pair of hanger members 56 pivotally supported at 57 at longitudinally spaced positions on the beam member 14 for pivotal movement about axes extended longitudinally of the beam member 14. An occupant supporting seat 58(FIG. 5) connecting the lower ends of the angle members 56 is illustrated as of a saddle type formed of a reinforced flat rubber material.

The swing apparatus 10 may be used in various ways for the entertainment of children. The swing units 44 may be swung in the usual manner by children seated on the seat supports 58. The independent swinging movement of the swing units 44 provides for a variation in the rotational and tilting movement of the beam member l4'relative to the column 11. An accelerated rotational and tilting movement of the beam member may be obtained by a child grasping the hangers 56 and then periodically, in a timed relation with the swinging movement of the swing unit 44, pushing the swing by running along the ground and then laying across the seat 58 on his stomach to enjoy the ride benefits of his efforts. It will be appreciated that the combination tilting and rotational movement of the beam member 14 in conjunction with a swing movement both laterally and transversely of the beam member provides for an unusual degree of entertainment and recreation.

c. a horizontal beam member, d. a pair of flat spring members of a U-shaped serving as the sole means for supporting said beam member on said arm members for rotational and horizontal tilting movement relative to said column, and

e. a swing unit pendently supported from each end of said beam member.

2. The playground apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: a. each of said flat spring members has a pair of end sections and a base section,

b. said spring members located between said arm members and said beam member to opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said hub assembly, each spring member having one of the end sections thereof extended longitudinally of an adjacent to an arm member, the other end section thereof extended longitudinally of and adjacent to said beam member, and the base sections thereof facing each other, and

c. means securing said one and other end sections to said arm members and beam member, respectively.

The playground apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

a. each of said arm members is of a channel shape in transverse cross section having a web section and upwardly extended leg sections, and

b. the one end section of each spring member being of a width only slightly less than the transverse spacing between said leg sections for reception therebetween and against the web section. 

1. A playground apparatus comprising: a. an upright column, b. a hub assembly rotatably supported on the upper end of said column for rotation about a vertical axis including a pair of oppositely arranged outwardly extended radial arm members, c. a horizontal beam member, d. a pair of flat spring members of a U-shaped serving as the sole means for supporting said beam member on said arm members for rotational and horizontal tilting movement relative to said column, and e. a swing unit pendently supported from each end of said beam member.
 2. The playground apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: a. each of said flat spring members has a pair of end sections and a base section, b. said spring members located between said arm members and said beam member to opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said hub assembly, each spring member having one of the end sections thereof extended longitudinally of an adjacent to an arm member, the other end section thereof extended longitudinally of and adjacent to said beam member, and the base sections thereof facing each other, and c. means securing said one and other end sections to said arm members and beam member, respectively.
 3. The playground apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: a. each of said arm members is of a channel shape in transverse cross section having a web section and upwardly extended leg sections, and b. the one end section of each spring member being of a width only slightly less than the transverse spacing between said leg sections for reception therebetween and against the web section. 